On the 14th, the Knicks suffered their third loss of the season, falling to the Nuggets in Denver's thin air.
This season, the Nuggets' star was Andre Iguodala, and the team ran a fast-paced, run-and-gun style, averaging 109 points per game. When two run-and-gun teams clash, it usually comes down to who can hit shots when it matters most.
Lin Yi paid homage to Kobe tonight. The Nuggets threw every tough, muscular defender they had at him, and his outside shots just wouldn't fall—a rare sight for a guy whose field goal percentage usually hovered well above 55%.
For Lin Yi, a prospective successor to Nash in the 180 Club, any shooting below 50% was considered bricking.
He groaned inwardly. He missed the old days when critics would shrug and say, "Hey, 50 shots, 20 makes? Respect."
After the loss, the Knicks flew straight to Miami, prepping for a showdown with the Heat. Their winning streak had already reached 22 games, and LeBron's fans were loudly proclaiming that the King would personally hand the Knicks two straight losses and reclaim the top spot in the MVP race.
Lin Yi knew better. That streak was supposed to peak at 27 games. This matchup wasn't just another win or loss—it was a crucial piece in the puzzle of his third consecutive MVP campaign.
Records and stats aside, the MVP race was never just about numbers. Voters got tired of the same dominance. If you didn't completely shut down every competitor, someone else could sneak in. And Lin Yi was a foreigner who had held this American sport hostage—every vote counted doubly.
His first MVP was built on performance and Stern's backing. Back-to-back wins were earned through the Knicks' dominance last season. But a three-peat? That was a different beast. Even with the Chinese market backing him, Stern still had to weigh every angle carefully.
Lin Yi didn't want regrets. Beating the Heat wasn't just about the streak—it was the key to cementing his MVP claim. End their 22-game run, and he'd be all but guaranteed the award.
On the 15th, the Knicks touched down in Miami.
. . .
The Heat had been on a tear lately, winning seemingly no matter what.
After more than two years of playing together, this team's chemistry and balance were near perfect. Their 22-game winning streak reflected that: averaging 110.5 points per game while allowing only 94.3, giving them a staggering net margin of 16.2 points.
Lin Yi watched the footage, hand pressed against his face, feeling his chest tighten.
Originally, the Heat's three-point shooting in the 2012–13 season had been solid. Now? Facing the Knicks, their shooting from deep was downright insane.
This season, they attempted 25.1 threes per game and made 10.1 of them, second only to the Knicks.
And that was just the start.
LeBron James was in peak form. The 22-game streak owed as much to his unstoppable drives as to anyone else. Just like the Knicks' opponents struggled to contain Lin Yi, the Heat's rivals couldn't handle James.
Forget King James Terminator—watch him run a full-court drive and tell me you're not scared.
Then there was Dwyane Wade. The Flash had been electric all season, especially in the fourth quarter. Cheeks puffed out, eyes locked, he was Miami's Mr. Clutch. Few rim defenders could stop him; most could only watch him glide past and feed the ball back out for another possession.
Lin Yi shook his head. Wade's finishing rate at the rim this season? 73 percent. And that wasn't from taking two shots a night—he was averaging six attempts at the rim every game.
And James? Even higher: 77.6 percent at the rim. With Miami's perimeter players creating space, the combination of Wade and James was lethal. No wonder people complained about their partnership.
Lin Yi leaned back, thinking. "So… how did the Spurs even come close to stopping this team?"
Then he remembered the 2012–13 Finals. Without Ray Allen's clutch three-pointer, this Heat would have been done for.
Meanwhile, the Knicks weren't exactly at full strength. Rookies and second-year players were still finding their footing. Outside of Tyson Chandler, Lin Yi, Paul, Danny Green, Wilson, and ...
Lin Yi thought. Maybe we're the shameless ones.
But basketball isn't decided on paper alone.
This Miami road game would be brutal. The Heat were riding high, with home-court advantage giving them timing, familiarity, and a roaring crowd. Momentum mattered more than anything.
Lin Yi knew the challenge ahead wouldn't be simple—but he thrived on challenges.
. . .
On the 16th, at the American Airlines Arena, the stage was set.
Knicks vs. Heat.
44 vs. 6
Miami's home team aimed to stretch its winning streak to 23 games, while the visiting Knicks were determined to stop it.
As James tossed his chalk into the air, the arena erupted with chants of "MVP! MVP!" The big screen flashed tonight's starting lineups:
Heat:
Udonis Haslem
Chris Bosh
LeBron James
Dwayne Wade
Mario Chalmers
Knicks:
Tyson Chandler
Markieff Morris
Lin Yi
Danny Green
Chris Paul.
This wasn't just another game. Fans and media had already hyped it.
In many eyes, it was a battle for supremacy:
6 vs. 44
Heat vs. Knicks
James vs. Lin Yi
Ever since Charles Barkley sparked the debate about the best active player, this matchup has been under a microscope.
Courtside, Ndamukong Suh sat with his girlfriend, wearing a LeBron jersey, waving to the cameras. Suh and James were close friends.
Jump ball.
Bosh stepped back, leaving Lin Yi to take it uncontested. This season, Lin Yi had lost the jump ball only twice—once to Drummond, once to DeAndre Jordan—and he figured a more favorable toss would have kept him from losing even then.
The Knicks had first possession.
The arena buzzed with hostility. Home fans tried to shake the Knicks with boos and jeers. Spoelstra adjusted Miami's defense: James wouldn't guard Lin Yi directly. Instead, Bosh would take the primary assignment.
The Knicks ran their set. CP3 dribbled past half-court. Green and Morris slid into the corners. Chandler rolled high to set a screen for Paul. Chalmers navigated the screen, cutting off Paul's drive, while Chandler rolled into the paint and met a block from Haslem.
Lin Yi read the defense immediately. Paul passed him the ball, and the Knicks cleared the wing. Bosh stretched his right arm to block Lin Yi's front, left arm ready for the dribble. Every eye in the arena watched. Lin Yi knew the first possession would be pivotal—momentum in games like this could decide everything.
He didn't try any fancy moves. Just a simple shoulder shimmy, and Bosh took the bait. Haslem rotated over, attempting to draw a charge, but Lin Yi had already spotted him. He stopped abruptly and launched a pull-up jumper from the wing.
Swish.
2-0.
Lin Yi opened the scoring for the Knicks with a textbook bank shot.
James, watching, patted Bosh on the back. "Don't sweat it, Chris. Just lock in on the next possession."
Bosh nodded, refocusing. The Heat shifted into their half-court offense.
. . .
Please do leave a review and powerstones, which helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to 30+ advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a